Fishing rod holder apparatus and method

A fishing rod retention assembly having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis and adapted to be attached to a stationary platform or a boat and mount a reel seat area of a fishing rod therein, the fishing rod having a forward region that occasionally has a load exerted thereon such as the load exerted from a fish on the line of the fishing rod, the fishing rod retention member comprising:

• a. a retention member adapted to be adjustably attached to the stationary platform or boat and comprising a longitudinally forward and a rearward surface that partially defines a receiving slot,
• b. a J-member comprising:
• i. a retention bracket comprising a lower retention member and an upper retention member and having a central elongated chamber region adapted to mount the reel seat area of a fishing rod therein,
• ii. a curve attachment fixedly attached to the retention bracket, the curved attachment having a longitudinally rearward surface and a longitudinally forward surface, first and second surfaces that are curved about a longitudinal axis, the center of curvature of the first and second surfaces arranged to have center of curvatures in a first lateral area of the curve attachment,
• c. a locking mechanism is adapted to restrict movement of the J-member with respect to the retention member,
• d. whereas the J-member is adapted to be positioned in the receiving slot of the retention member and have an open position whereby the elongated chamber region provides for access therein, and the J-member is adapted to be repositioned downwardly and laterally with the curve attachment extending through the receiving slot in a closed position to retain a fishing rod therein whereby a frictional force between either the longitudinally rearward surface or the longitudinally forward surface of the curve attachment with the longitudinally forward and rearward surfaces of the retention member sufficiently locks the fishing rod therein when a load is placed on the forward portion of the fishing rod, and
• e. whereby the J-member defines an adjustment slot and the locking member comprises a contracting mechanism that is slidably attached to the retention member and adapted to extend through the adjustment slot.